Sadism or not ? McGonagall and her punishments

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 186650

> Pippin:
> Also, I am confused about the objection to Neville's punishment. He made a list of passwords, which was an obvious and flagrant breach of security, presumably because he didn't like having to wait for someone else  to let him in. His punishment forced him to do just that, so I find it very appropriate. 
> 
> Neville must have taken the list outside Gryffindor Tower, even though he didn't lose it there, or he would have known that it must have been stolen from inside. And for that, IMO, he deserved what he got.

Montavilla47:
Let's be fair, Pippin.  Unless Neville took the list with him outside
the common room, it wouldn't have been useful at all.  The whole 
point of the list was to provide a password for Neville when he 
forget them.


Pippin:
> It may be cruel to humiliate students, but it's hardly unusual at Hogwarts. What Harry doesn't like is that Snape so obviously enjoys what he's doing. If Snape had looked sorrowful like Dumbledore or even angry, the way McGonagall does, Harry probably wouldn't mind nearly so much, and might have spoken up for himself more effectively on the occasions when he thought Snape was mistaken.  But he thinks that Snape is only doing it to gratify himself and isn't actually interested in improving Harry's behavior at all.  I think the Prince's Tale shows that is not the case.

Montavilla47:

Can you point out the "enjoyment" that Snape shows?  I know he 
seems pleased at perhaps two or three times, but my recollection
is that Snape shows a range of emotions while assigning detentions.

With Neville, he seems mostly exasperated or frustrated.  With 
Ron or Hermione, he's mostly cold.  With Harry, it can be cold, 
angry, or, occasionally smug.